September 13, 2021 I Philanthropy
Music & Arts, Make-A-Wish Grant Wish of 12-Year-Old Recipient
Sydney Mead
Music & Arts was recently brought in to partner on a musical “wish reveal” spearheaded by Make-A-Wish Mississippi and Mississippi Baptist Medical Center, granting the wish of 12-year-old Sydney Mead for a decked-out music room.
Mead, who was born with Williams Syndrome, a rare heart condition, is a self-taught drummer and guitarist. She resides in Madison, Mississippi, and since her older brother recently moved out of the house for college, his room has been transformed into Mead’s music suite.
Her wish was granted on Aug. 19, with a special surprise reveal that featured a red carpet and stage backdrop, leading up to the main event: her music room filled with the following, courtesy of Music & Arts: a left-handed Squier Affinity Stratocaster guitar, a Rogue five-piece drum set with cymbals, ear protection via a Vic Firth isolation headset, a Peavey practice amp, and assorted accessories, including stickers, guitar strap, guitar stand and cable. Music & Arts also added one month of music lessons for Mead on the instrument of her choice. Flowood, Mississippi-based Music & Arts associates, John Chappell, store manager, and Cliff Hellums, percussion specialist, were on-hand at the reveal.
“Sydney was shocked,” said Linda Sermons, wish assistant at Make-A-Wish Mississippi. “On the day of the surprise reveal, her sister escorted her up to the red carpet we created for her. After opening a few gifts at the stage backdrop, I asked for her help, because I had left one last thing inside the house. She turned the corner and shouted, ‘My music room!’ She was so excited and we can’t thank Music & Arts enough for helping us grant this wish.”
